Volume and temperature controlled faucet



Oct. 23, 1951 T. REEVES JR 1 VOLUME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED FAUCET Filed 001;. 4. 1946 2 Sl-lEETS--SHEET 2 F" .10 {57 Inventor Abarzwy Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF VOLUME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED FA oET Leronzo T. Reeves, Jr. Evanston, Ill. Application October 4, 1946, SeriaI No. 701,140

bination and arrangement of the several parts and in the particular method of operation, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing in connection with the detailed description to follow wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

a In the drawing: 7 I

Figure l is a longitudinal, vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line l-| of Fig. 2';

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a faucet accordingto the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the temperature control valve stem of the faucet; Fig. 4 is a top plan view with part broken away of the temperature control valve of the invention apart from the faucet;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the faucet with parts removed and taken substantiall on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. l;

. Fig. 6 is aplan view of the temperature control valveshaft apart from the faucet;

Fig. 7 is an elevation thereof;

- Fig. 8 is a bottom plan View thereof;

Fig, 9 is an elevation of the volume control valve shaft apart from the faucet and with parts broken away and shown in section; 1 Fig. 10 is a plan view of an element of the volume control apart from the faucet;

- Fig. 11 is a bottom plan of the volume control valve apart from the faucet;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of the temperature control valve in the normal position;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification; and

Fig. 14 is a vertical section through a modifica tion of the temperature control valve.

With particular reference to Fig. l of the drawing, I: indicates a faucet casting which comprises a, vertically disposed, hollow, cylindrical casing having hot and cold Water inlet openings 2| and 22, respectively, in the floor 23 thereof. The

5 Claims. (c1. 277-64) 2 inside surface of the floor 23 forms a flat and sub-1 stantially circular seat for the temperature control valve 24, to be described later.

.The opening of an outlet spout 25 opens into the casing 20 above the temperature control valve 24. The top of the casing 20 is closed by a cap 2 which is detachably-secured to the casing 20 in any suitable manner. The cap 2 is provided with a central threaded aperture 2 6 in which is screwed the invention, apart from v the threaded volume control valve shaft 3. The upper end of the shaft 3 is provided with an; suitable operating handle 21. l

The shaft 3 is centrally bored to provide a relatively wide circular passage 28 at its upper end and a, relatively narrow passage 29 at its lower end. A radial shoulder 30 connects the passages 28, '29 intermediate the ends of the shaft 3.

The top of the shaft 3 may be formed with a circular recess 3| to seat the circular handle or knob 32, of the temperature control valveshaft 4. The shaft 4 is of stepped cylindrical configuration complementary to the, stepped bore 28, 29 of the shaft 3 in which it fits for relative turning movementtherein. The radial shoulder 30 of such bore provides a seat for the lower end of the shaft 4. v

The shaft 4 is provided with an H-shaped, splined bore or passage 33 (Fig. 8) which slidably receives the complementary H -shaped valve shaft extension or stem 5 which as here shown comprises a cylindrical shaft having diametrically opposed slots or keyways 34 extending ion-- gitudinally thereof for the greater part of its length, to receive the splines-of the passage 33. The lower end 35 of stem 5 is unslotted and is rotatably seated in the circular recess 36 in the floor 23 of the casing 20. Diametrically spaced prongs 31 depend from the lower end of shaft 4 and are so positioned as to comprise extensions of the splines of passage 33 and to have a sliding fit in the keyways 34 of the stem 5. Diametrically oppositely extending lugs 38 are formed on the outer surfaces of the prongs 31 to provide a seat for the lower end 39 of the shaft 3. An annular flange 40 depends from the lower end 39 of the shaft 3 and bears on the upper surface of the vertically reciprocable volume control valve 8.

The valve 8 (Figs. 1 and 11) is generally cylindrical shape and the upper end is formed with a circular flange 4| for a sliding fit in the chamber 20. The flange 4| is formed with a depending cylindrical skirt 42 to provide an annularrecessbetween said skirt and the body of valve 8 wherein is seated the upper end of valve supporting coil spring 50, which is concentric to the valve 8. The lower end of spring 50 is supported atop the temperature control valve 24. The valve 8 is axially bored as at I8 for a sliding fit on the stem 5 and the lower ends of prongs 31.

The lower portion of the volume control shaft 3 is unthreaded and is formed to provide a peri heral groove 43. The upper portion of the groove 43 is formed with diametrically opposed keyways44 in the floor thereof to receive the slot 45 of a slotted Washer Ill. The washer I is formed with a central hole 46 to fit the floor of groove 43 and with an upstanding marginal flange 41 which provides a seat for the lower end of a volume control valve loading spring 9 (Fig. 1), concentric to the shaft 3. The upper end of spring 9 surrounds an annular boss 48 on the underside of ca 2 and seats against saidunderside of cap 2.

The temperature control valve 24 comprises a disc I of any suitable material and is formed with'a central hub I which is formed with an,

H -s'haped hole 60 'therethrough for a .press fit onthe valve stem 5. 'The disc 7 is formed with a plurality of holes'52 therethrough and the upper andlower surfaces of the disc I are coated with "heavy layers of rubber or resilient plastic f2 and :I3 which is flowed into the holes 52 to anchorjsuch layers in place. The valve 24 is formed with hot and cold water inletopenings 53 and 54, respectively, which, in size and shape correspond to the'hotand cold water inlet openings 2 I 22 in the floor 23 of the casing 20. Where the cold water pressure (for instance) is greater thantthat of the hot water, the size of the valve opening 54 may be reduced as shown by the brokenline .55 (Fig. 4) to compensate for such inequality. v

Anedge portion of .the valve,24 may be arcuately cut away to providestops 56 and 5I'which alternately engage a stop lug 58 which projects radially inwardly from a wall of the casing 20 whereby to limit rotary movement of the valve 24 in both directions.

It is to be noted that the coated lower surface l3 of valve 24 provides a washer for such valve and that the coated upper surface I2 provides a washer and seat for the volume control valve 8. The lower surface of the valve 8 is formed with an axial recess 59 to clear the hub 5| of the valve 2'4 when'valve 8 is seated thereon. V

If, as for instance when it is necessary to use a valve 24 with inlet openings 53, 55 of unequal size, the proper application of a new valve24 can be assured by substituting an asymmetrically shaped keyway, holes, splines and the like for the symmetrical 'H-shaped keyways 34, holes 60, prongs 3T, passage 33 of the'several parts.

Also, by providing a relativelysteep pitch of the threads on the threaded portion of shaft 3, while at the same time making the valve loading spring 9 substantially stronger than the valve supporting spring '50, the volume control valve will be continuously urged towards its seat I2 whereby to become a self closing valve,

In operation, temperature is controlled by rotating the temperature control knob 32 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, which transmits such motion through the shaft 4 and stem 5 to "the temperature control valve 24. Such valve is normally partly open with each of the in-letsll and 22 equally, though only partially uncovered as is diagrammatically shown in -Fi'g. 12. With the parts in the Fig. 12 position, and assuming the volume-control valve. to

be open, equal amounts of hot and cold water will flow through valve 24. If valve 24 is turned in a clockwise direction, less hot but more cold water will be permitted to flow until, when the valve is turned until shoulder 51 engages the stop lug 58, the hot inlet 2| will be entirely out ch? while the cold inlet 22 will be wide open. Turning the valve 24 in a counter-clockwise direction will obviously have an opposite result.

Volume is controlled to any desired degree by raising the volume valve 8 an appropriate distance from the seat I2 and this operation is entirely independent of the operation of the temperature control valve. Moreover, the splined connection between the shaft 4 and stem 5 permits the knob 32 of the shaft 4 to move up and down without being unseated from the recess 3| in handle 21. Indeed, the engagement of the lower end of shaft 4 with the radial shoulder 30 of axial bore 28 of shaft 3 causes shaft 4 to move upwardly with shaft 3 while the engagementof thelower end 39 of the shaft '3 with the iugs'38 of the prongs 3T forces the shaft 4 to move downwardly with the shaft 3. The telescopic relation of shaft 4 with stem 5 permits this action.

-Where a spring closed volume valve is not desired, the washer III and spring 9 can be removed readily without special-tools or otherwise modifying the valve. Indeed both valves and their'associated parts can be'readily removed from the casing 25 for disas'sembly when'the cap '2 is removed. The stem 5 with the disc valve 24 then slips readilyout of the bore of shaft 4. As the valve 24 and stem 5 are connected with a press fit they are replaced as a unit when the'washers I2 and [3 become worn. Alternatively, "(Fig 13) the valve 24 may be readily detachablefrom the stem 5 in a number of ways, as by reducing the diameter of the lower end I2'of the stem'5, providing a correspondingly sized hole 13 in the valve 24 and applying said valve to the stem from the lower end. This structure'provides a shoulder ID on the stem 5 which bears against the upper surface of the hub'll to prevent thevalve from sliding up stem 5 under water pressure.

- Shims'can be inserted between said shoulder-'10 and hub "II to compensate for wear of the lower washer I3 or an initial misfit. After the-stemi is removed from shaft 4, prongs 31 of the latter may be pressed together andshaft 4 maybe withdrawn upwardly out of shaft3;

Fig. 14 illustrates a further modification .of the valve 24 wherein the diameter of the upper washer H2 is reduced to permit the lower end of the spring 50 to seat directly on the disc I of the valve rather than partially on the-washer and partially on the stop lug 58.

Also, valve 24 may not be press fitted'onstem 5 but merely slipped on'stem 5 from the top. Hub-5| of valve'24 will then rest on the shoulders at the lower end of keyways'34 of stem "5,

valve 8 is less than between-the othernamedparts;

When handle 21 is rotated to'control "volume, flange 40 rotates but valve 8 which it bearsagainst, does not. This-allows valve 58 to'se'ttle onvalv 24 without disturbing its position. 'i'F-riction may be reduced (though it is not necessary) by inserting a set of small ball bearing between flange 4Q and valve 8.

Washer l3 may be attached to base 23 and washer I2 to the bottom of valve 8, each conforming in shape to the surface to which attached, perforations 52 being eliminated.

While I have shown and described What is now thought to be a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of being expressed by other embodiments. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structures or combinations shown and described hereinabove, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A mixing valve, comprising a casing having sides and a floor, at least two fluid inlets in the floor of said casing, a mixing valve seated on the floor of said casing for turning movement in a plane parallel to the floor of said casing, a washer integral with said valve and interposed between the same and said casing floor, a second washer integral with said valve and carried by the upper surface of said valve, at least two inlet apertures through said washers and valve, means for turning said valve to vary the relative amounts of liquids admitted through said inlets and apertures, a volume control valve within said casing, and means for moving said volume control valve into and out of sealing engagement with said second washer to control the volume of fluid passing said first valve.

2. A mixing valve, comprising a casing including a wall, at least two fluid inlets in said wall, a mixing valve seated on said wall, a washer carried by said valve and interposed between said valve and wall, a second washer carried by said valve on a side thereof remote from said wall, at least two apertures through said washers and valve, means mounting said valve for turning movement along said wall whereby to vary the proportions of liquids passed through said inlets and apertures, means for turning said valve, a volume control valve within said casing, and means for moving said volume control valve into and out of engagement with said second washer to vary the volume of fluids passed by said mixing valve.

3. The structure of claim 1, said means for turning said mixing valve comprising a stem, said volume control valve comprising a reciprocable valve and a shaft, said shaft being concentrically disposed about said stem for telescopic movement relative thereto as said shaft is reciprocated, a second shaft having a splined, telescopic connection to said stem, said second shaft being concentrically disposed within said first shaft and being connected thereto for reciprocation therewith.

4. A mixing valve, comprising a casing including a flat wall, at least two fluid inlets formed in said wall, a flat mixing valve seated on said Wall, said valve having opposed inner and outer faces, inner and outer washer means carried by said faces, at least two apertures through said valve and washer means, said wall comprising a valve seat for outer washer means of said valve, said outer washer means sealing off said inlets from each other, means mounting said valve for turning movement along said wall whereby to vary the proportions of liquids passed through said inlets and apertures, means for turning said valve, a volume control valve within said casing, and means for moving said volume control valve into and out of engagement with said inner washer means of said mixing valve to vary the volume of fluids passed by said mixing valve.

5. A mixing valve, comprising a casing including a wall, said wall being formed with at least two fluid inlets therein, a mixing valve seated on said wall, said mixing valve being formed with at least two inlet apertures therein and at least one outlet aperture therein, said valve comprisinga pair of opposed surfaces, washer means carried by one surface of said mixing valve between the same and said wall to seal off said inlets from each other, said wall comprising a seat for said washer means, a second washer means carried by the other surface in concentric relation to said outlet aperture, a volume control valve, and means mounting said volume control valve for reciprocable movement into and out of engagement with said last-named washer means.

LERONZO T. REEVES, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,429,199 Finney Sept. 12, 1922 1,517,990 Hinkle Dec. 2, 1924 1,730,534 Rosenbaum Oct. 8, 1929 2,072,736 Dumas Mar. 2, 1937 2,365,423 Macsporran Dec. 19, 1944 

